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The Polish authorities says 100,000 individuals have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia’s invasion started on Thursday.
“From the onset of warfare in Ukraine by way of right now, alongside your complete border with Ukraine, 100,000 individuals have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland,” Deputy Inside Minister Pawel Szefernaker instructed reporters on Saturday within the border village of Medyka, southeastern Poland.
“Since 7am the Ukrainian facet has closed a part of the lanes for automobiles and allowed pedestrian visitors,” Szefernaker continued. “The queue on the Ukrainian facet ought to lower.”
He mentioned 90 p.c of the refugees have locations to go in Poland, such because the houses of mates or household, however that the rest are in search of assist at 9 reception centres arrange alongside the border.
Many of the arrivals have been girls and youngsters in addition to males exterior the 18-to-60 age vary who face conscription in Ukraine, he added.
The centres provide meals and medical care, a spot to relaxation in addition to any essential info.
Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi mentioned the mid-sized Polish city of Przemysl has change into a significant hub of exercise as Ukrainian refugees proceed to stream throughout the border.
“All border crossings are open to foot visitors,” he mentioned, reporting from the city in japanese Poland. “The federal government right here is aware of there are individuals caught on the border on the Ukrainian facet, [and that] processing instances are taking a very long time. Individuals are having to desert automobiles, rail strains are overwhelmed, so lots of people are ditching all the pieces and strolling.”
The pinnacle of the Polish border guard, Tomasz Praga, added on the press convention that on Friday alone almost 50,000 individuals had crossed into Poland from Ukraine.
Szefernaker mentioned his nation can course of as much as 50,000 refugees from Ukraine on the border daily.
Poland, which was already residence to an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainians earlier than Russia’s invasion and which has expressed steadfast help for Ukraine, has up to now seen the majority of these fleeing Ukraine cross into its territory.
“Newest replace is that just about 116,000 have fled to neighbouring international locations since February 24 – primarily Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania,” the United Nations refugee company UNHCR tweeted on Saturday.
“Numbers are rising,” it added.
The UN mentioned the variety of individuals in search of refuge exterior of Ukraine to different international locations may rise to 5 million.
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